www.audreytimm.co.uk
PhD MSc LandsCons MCIHort
Horticultural science
My research on proteas at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, started my horticultural career as a plant physiologist specialising in growth habits, source:sink allocations and flowering controls and patterns - essentially understanding how and why plants grow like they do; what they are capable of, and what measure of control we can exert. This understanding of plant behaviour holds true for all strands of horticulture - floriculture, gardening, agriculture, conservation and ecology - and tracks how the environment and any changes in climate affect plant performance.
Research and Communications
I undertake consultancies to collate, condense, and interpret scientific and technical research for publication in popular articles, media presentations, and industry magazines. ​
In defense of nature in cities, this short YouTube video was submitted to the BBC Academy Expert Women.
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As a freelance journalist I am invited to attend Horticultural trade shows and events throughout Europe, and write articles for international industry magazines. Recent articles published include: ​
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This article profiles the business innovation of FitzGerald Nurseries in Ireland.
It was prepared from background research and a structured skype interview.
A review of the AIPH Green City programme as the AIPH celebrates its 70th anniversary. Research for this article came from attending FlorMart in Padova, and the AIPH congress.
This reports on the trade show Green is Life in Warsaw. In its 25th year, Green is Life showcases the horticultural industry in Poland, and its connections and influences nationally and internationally.
Other articles for FloraCulture International magazine:
The Guatemalan flower industry - email interview
Keukenhof and Floriade Flower Shows in Holland - site visits The Horticultural Olympics in Brisbane - conference
Feingold commercial lily production in Melbourne - personal interview Report on an industry conference in Chile - conference​
Floriculture
My early research focused on optimising commercial production of cut flowers from the family Proteaceae, with my most significant work contributing to increased flower yield, quality and time of harvest. To achieve these goals, I investigated the factors controlling flower initiation and development, leading to the design of novel pruning strategies. This work was published in peer reviewed journals, popular articles, and formed the core of a chapter I was commissioned to write on Proteaceae in Floriculture: Principles and Species, 2004.
Defoliation alters spring growth flush characteristics and inhibits flowering in Protea cv. Carnival.
Audrey I. Gerber, Karen I. Theron, and Gerard Jacobs.
Department of Horticultural Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
Inflorescence initiation in Protea cv. Carnival starts at spring budbreak, and production of involucral bracts occurs concurrently with spring flush elongation. The presence of mature leaves on an over-wintering shoot is essential for inflorescence initiation on the spring growth flush of ‘Carnival’ indicating that conditions prevailing during winter, whether environmental or intra-plant factors, are conducive to flowering. The induced state is retained for a period and then gradually lost.
P. cv. Sylvia (ProteaManipulation of Flowering Time by Pruning of eximia (Salisb. ex Knight) Fourc. x P. susannae Phill.) .
Audrey I. Gerber, Karen I. Theron, and Gerard Jacobs.
Department of Horticultural Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
The date of pruning affected flowering time of Protea cv. ‘Sylvia’ (P. eximia x P. susannae) by influencing the flush on which inflorescence initiation occurred, and the harvest could be manipulated to fall within the optimum marketing period for export to Europe. Since the vegetative and reproductive cycles necessary to produce inflorescences on long stems span more than a year, a biennial cropping system is recommended.
The Woody Meadow project was initiated in collaboration with Prof. James Hitchmough, in response to a request from the City of Melbourne to develop novel landscape strategies that are resilient to the climate change Understanding the physiology that shapes ecological traits and how these confer resilience to individuals and plant communities has been core to the development of this design.
We were delighted to also receive funding from the Trawalla Foundation for preliminary trials, established in October 2015 at Burnley and RBG Cranbourne .
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Future proof plant research secures new funding, Landscape Sheffield
Melbourne gets its own wild meadows, The Sydney Morning Herald
Training
The real energy of research is unleashed when it informs practice. Through my facilitation role as New and Innovative Industry Development Officer for the Department of Agriculture, Victoria, I delivered formal and informal training packages to grower groups and small businesses, helping them achieve greater economic success. Funded by jointly by the Australian wildflower industry and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Australia, I produced strategic industry reports, knowledge packages and grower manuals, ranging from integrated pest management (IPM), intellectual property, sustainable agriculture and Canopy Management.
"Correct canopy management in the first 2 years of a commercial plantation will significantly decrease the time to first harvest and significantly increase the size and quality (by virtue of stem length) of the first harvest. On mature productive plants, good canopy management can increase yields by 10-30%. Often simple methods, such as changes in harvesting practice, will contribute to ease and efficiency of canopy management."
"Australian flowers exported to USA are subjected to intense scrutiny by the USDA. When flower shipments are rejected due to insect interceptions both grower and exporter take financial losses. Key export companies kept records for interceptions through the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Financial losses were significant, running into tens of thousands of dollars, and growers and exporters decided to take action."
I have experience and qualifications in formal and informal training. I have taught at university degree level. I have prepared and delivered knowledge and practical training to commercial growers in many countries. This has ranged from simple workshops to multi-day training to certificate level 5 (owner operators in business). My language of delivery is English, and workshops have been delivered internationally, with translation to other languages.
Industry contribution
The International Protea Association connects and communicates with the global protea industry. I have served as Chair of the IPA for three consecutive terms. In addition, I have served as Vice-Chair to the International Protea Working Group (IPWG) affiliated to the International Society of Horticultural Sciences (ISHS), and contributed to the editing of Acta Horticulturae.